Patriots gridiron news: Harvey Langi ‘excited’ to make NFL debut
Undrafted rookie linebacker Harvey Langi is set to make his NFL debut for the New England Patriots Sunday and could play a big role.
An undrafted rookie making an impact for the New England Patriots is nothing new. But this early in the season? Well, undrafted rookie linebacker Harvey Langi may get the opportunity to do just that when he makes his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Due to the lack of depth at linebacker and the absence of Dont’a Hightower, Langi will suddenly have the opportunity to make plays on the field. Depending on an undrafted rookie on defense in a Week 2 game is not exactly what you want from the defending Super Bowl champions, but it is what it is and this young linebacker is motivated and ready.
"“I’m excited,” Langi said, via The Boston Herald. “It’s something all of us have been dreaming to do one day. It’s coming here quick and fast, and you’ve got to get over all the excitement and hype because it’s work now. It’s exciting, for sure.”"
The time is now
Langi is probably not your typical undrafted rookie. As a player who probably should’ve been drafted, the product out of BYU played with the starting defense for the majority of training camp so he is in a good position to fill in and perhaps perform well from the inside linebacker position as well as the hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role.
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While there is no guarantee as to how the New England Patriots will use Langi game to game, there is no doubt he will have a shot to produce in some form. He knows he will be challenged and sounds ready to take on that challenge.
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"“It’s a great defense, a great defensive coordinator,” Langi said. “A lot of guys have played in this defense for a long time, and even they are learning every day. Watching them, seeing them, trying to follow them, it is pretty tough to learn the defense. But if it was easy, everyone would be able to do it.”"
Sounds promising coming from such a young player. It would sound even more promising if he made a couple big plays on defense against the Saints in Week 2.
Patriots release OL Willie Beavers
The New England Patriots practice squad was tweaked again on Saturday. According to Patriots.com, the team announced the release of OL Willie Beavers.
A 6-foot-5, 322-pounder out of Western Michigan, Beavers was signed to the practice squad on September 5. The former 2016 fourth round pick played in just two games with the Minnesota Vikings in his rookie season before being released a week before the start of the 2017 NFL season.
Injury report
Along with Dont’a Hightower, the Patriots will be without Danny Amendola, Matthew Slater and DL Vincent Valentine Sunday against the Saints.
All four players were either limited or absent from practice this week.
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While Hightower’s absence opens up an opportunity for a player like Langi, Amendola and Slater’s absence leaves the wide receiver depth very thin. Look for a tight end or a couple of running backs to make up for that shortage.